Mask and nose cover

ABSTRACT

A mask includes: a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user; and a nose cover portion protruding from the mask main body to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user. The nose cover portion is foldable with respect to the mask main body at a boundary with the mask main body. The mask has: a usage mode in which the mask is attached to a head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is folded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary; and a usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is unfolded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-079262 filed May 7, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mask for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user, and a nose cover.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there has been known a mask including a mask main body formed of a nonwoven fabric and a string attached to the head of a user to hold the mask main body at a specific position with respect to the head (see, for example, JP 2020-084388 A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, the conventional mask has a problem that the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user to cause the external nostril of the user to be exposed above the upper end of the mask main body in a specific case while the mask is attached to the head of the user such as a case where the user performs vigorous exercise while the mask is attached to the head of the user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mask and a nose cover capable of reducing the possibility that the external nostril of a user is exposed.

A mask of the present invention includes: a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user; and a nose cover portion protruding from the mask main body to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user. The nose cover portion is foldable with respect to the mask main body at a boundary with the mask main body.

With this configuration, the mask of the present invention includes the nose cover portion protruding from the mask main body to prevent the exposure of the external nostril of the user. Therefore, when the nose cover portion is unfolded with respect to the mask main body in a case where the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user, the possibility that the external nostril of the user is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover portion. In the mask of the present invention, in a case where there is a low possibility that the mask main body slides down from the specific position of the head of the user, the discomfort of the user due to the wide range of a face being covered can be reduced by folding the nose cover portion with respect to the mask main body.

The mask of the present invention may include a mark indicating the boundary.

With this configuration, the mask of the present invention includes the mark indicating the boundary between the mask main body and the nose cover portion, so that the folding work of the nose cover portion with respect to the mask main body by the user can be facilitated.

In the mask of the present invention, at least a part of the boundary may have different rigidity from that of at least one of a portion of the mask main body adjacent to the boundary and a portion of the nose cover portion adjacent to the boundary.

With this configuration, in the mask of the present invention, at least a part of the boundary between the mask main body and the nose cover portion has different rigidity from that of at least one of a portion of the mask main body adjacent to the boundary and a portion of the nose cover portion adjacent to the boundary, so that the folding work of the nose cover portion with respect to the mask main body by the user can be facilitated.

A mask of the present invention includes: a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user; and a nose cover attached to the mask main body so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user. The nose cover is detachably attached to the mask main body.

With this configuration, the mask of the present invention includes the nose cover attached to the mask main body so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent the exposure of the external nostril of the user. Therefore, when the nose cover is attached to the mask main body in a case where the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user, the possibility that the external nostril of the user is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover. In the mask of the present invention, in a case where there is a low possibility that the mask main body slides down from the specific position of the head of the user, the discomfort of the user due to the wide range of a face being covered can be reduced by removing the nose cover from the mask main body.

A nose cover of the present invention is attached to a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user.

With this configuration, the nose cover of the present invention is attached to the mask main body so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent the exposure of the external nostril of the user. Therefore, when the nose cover is attached to the mask main body in a case where the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user, the possibility that the external nostril of the user is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover.

The mask and the nose cover of the present invention can reduce the possibility that the external nostril of the user is exposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a perspective view of a mask according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a case where the mask is attached to the head of a user in a state where a nose cover portion is folded to a front side of a mask main body;

FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 1 in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is folded to a back side of the mask main body;

FIG. 3 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 1 in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is unfolded;

FIG. 4 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 1 when the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is folded to the front side of the mask main body;

FIG. 5 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 1 when the mask main body slides down from a specific position of the head of the user in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is unfolded;

FIG. 6 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 1 in a case where a fold is provided at a boundary between the mask main body and the nose cover portion;

FIG. 7 is an example of a perspective view of a mask according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a case where the mask is attached to the head of a user in a state where a nose cover is not attached to a mask main body;

FIG. 8 is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 7 in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover is attached to the front side of the mask main body by a seal;

FIG. 9A is a side view of a nose cover in which a clip is attached to each of left and right positions on a back side;

FIG. 9B is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 7 in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover illustrated in FIG. 9A is attached to the front side of the mask main body by the clip;

FIG. 10A is a bottom view of a nose cover in which a clip is attached to the center on the back side; and

FIG. 10B is an example of a perspective view of the mask illustrated in FIG. 7 in a case where the mask is attached to the head of the user in a state where the nose cover illustrated in FIG. 10A is attached to the front side of the mask main body by the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is an example of a perspective view of a mask 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a case where the mask 10 is attached to a head 91 of a user 90 in a state where a nose cover portion 12 is folded to the front side of a mask main body 11. FIG. 2 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 10 in a case where the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the back side of the mask main body 11. FIG. 3 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 10 in a case where the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is unfolded.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mask 10 includes the mask main body 11 for preventing exposure of the mouth of the user 90, the nose cover portion 12 protruding from the mask main body 11 to prevent exposure of an external nostril 91 b (see FIG. 4) of a nose 91 a of the user 90, and a string 13 attached to the head 91 of the user 90 to hold the mask main body 11 at a specific position with respect to the head 91.

The mask main body 11 can be formed of various materials such as a cloth other than a nonwoven fabric (such as a cotton woven fabric), a nonwoven fabric, and polyurethane.

The nose cover portion 12 is provided so as to protrude above the upper end of the mask main body 11. The nose cover portion 12 can be formed of various materials such as a cloth other than a nonwoven fabric (such as a cotton woven fabric), a nonwoven fabric, and polyurethane. The nose cover portion 12 can be used in a state of being folded outward with respect to the mask main body 11 at a boundary 10 a between the mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, the nose cover portion 12 can be used in a state of being folded to the front side of the mask main body 11. The nose cover portion 12 can be used in a state of being folded inward with respect to the mask main body 11 at the boundary 10 a as illustrated in FIG. 2. That is, the nose cover portion 12 can be used in a state of being folded to the back side of the mask main body 11. The nose cover portion 12 can be used in a state of being unfolded with respect to the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12 may be integrally formed as one component.

The string 13 is connected to the mask main body 11. The string 13 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 by being hooked to an ear 91 c of the user 90.

The mask main body 11 and the string 13 may be integrally formed as one component.

FIG. 4 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 10 when the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 in a case where the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the front side of the mask main body 11.

The mask main body 11 may slide down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 to cause an external nostril 91 b of the user 90 to be exposed above the upper end of the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 4 in a specific case while the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 as illustrated in FIG. 1 such as a case where the user 90 performs vigorous exercise while the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In the above description, when the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in the state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the front side of the mask main body 11, the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90. However, when the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 in a case where the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the back side of the mask main body 11, the external nostril 91 b of the user 90 may be similarly exposed above the upper end of the mask main body 11.

FIG. 5 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 10 when the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 in a case where the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is unfolded.

The mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 as illustrated in FIG. 5 in a specific case while the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 as illustrated in FIG. 3 such as a case where the user 90 performs vigorous exercise while the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, in the mask 10, even if the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90 in a case where the nose cover portion 12 is unfolded, the nose cover portion 12 can prevent the external nostril 91 b (see FIG. 4) of the user 90 from being exposed above the upper end of the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

As described above, the mask 10 includes the nose cover portion 12 protruding from the mask main body 11 in order to prevent the exposure of the external nostril 91 b of the user 90, whereby when the nose cover portion 12 is unfolded with respect to the mask main body 11 in a case where the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90, the possibility that the external nostril 91 b of the user 90 is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover portion 12 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Therefore, when there is a high possibility that the mask main body 11 slides down from a specific position of the head 91, for example, when the user 90 runs while the mask 10 is attached to the head 91, the mask 10 is attached to the head 91 in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is unfolded with respect to the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 3, whereby the possibility that the external nostril 91 b is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover portion 12 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the mask 10, in a case where there is a low possibility that the mask main body 11 slides down from the specific position of the head 91 of the user 90, the discomfort of the user 90 due to the wide range of a face being covered can be reduced by folding the nose cover portion 12 with respect to the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 10 in a case where a fold 10 b is provided at a boundary 10 a between the mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the mask 10 may have the fold 10 b provided at the boundary 10 a between the mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12.

The fold 10 b functions as a mark indicating the boundary 10 a between the mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12. The mask 10 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes the mark indicating the boundary 10 a between the mask main body 11 and the nose cover portion 12, so that the folding work of the nose cover portion 12 with respect to the mask main body 11 by the user 90 can be facilitated.

The mark indicating the boundary 10 a may be formed by means other than the fold. For example, the mark indicating the boundary 10 a may be drawn by a line or may be formed by a seam.

The fold 10 b has lower rigidity than that of a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the fold 10 b itself. Similarly, the fold 10 b has lower rigidity than that of a portion of the nose cover portion 12 adjacent to the fold 10 b itself. In the mask 10 illustrated in FIG. 6, the fold 10 b has different rigidity from that of the portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the fold 10 b itself, and has different rigidity from that of the portion of the nose cover portion 12 adjacent to the fold 10 b itself, so that the folding work of the nose cover portion 12 with respect to the mask main body 11 by the user 90 can be facilitated.

In the mask 10 illustrated in FIG. 6, the boundary 10 a has different rigidity from that of a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary 10 a itself, and has different rigidity from that of a portion of the nose cover portion 12 adjacent to the boundary 10 a itself However, the effect of facilitating the folding work of the nose cover portion 12 with respect to the mask main body 11 by the user 90 can be obtained by only one of the fact that at least a part of the boundary 10 a has different rigidity from that of a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary and the fact that at least a part of the boundary 10 a has different rigidity from that of a portion of the nose cover portion 12 adjacent to the boundary.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the fold 10 b is provided over the entire boundary 10 a. However, a fold may be provided only in a part of the boundary 10 a.

As a method in which at least a part of the boundary 10 a is made different in rigidity from a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary, means other than the fold may be used. For example, even if a seam is provided at the boundary 10 a or a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary 10 a is reinforced with a reinforcing member such as a wire, at least a part of the boundary 10 a can have different rigidity from that of a portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary. In the above description, the method in which at least a part of the boundary 10 a is made different in rigidity from the portion of the mask main body 11 adjacent to the boundary has been described, but the same applies to a method in which at least a part of the boundary 10 a is made different in rigidity from the portion of the nose cover portion 12 adjacent to the boundary.

In the mask 10, in a case where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the front side of the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded with respect to the mask main body 11, the nose cover portion 12 does not come into contact with the face of the user 90, so that the discomfort of the user 90 due to the nose cover portion 12 coming into contact with the face can be prevented. In the mask 10, in a case where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the front side of the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded with respect to the mask main body 11, the back surface of the nose cover portion 12 is exposed, so that the aesthetic properties of the entire mask 10 can be improved by the pattern and color of the back surface of the nose cover portion 12.

In the mask 10, in a case where the nose cover portion 12 is folded to the back side of the mask main body 11 as illustrated in FIG. 2, in a state where the nose cover portion 12 is folded with respect to the mask main body 11, the nose cover portion 12 is not exposed, so that the degradation of aesthetic properties due to the exposure of the nose cover portion 12 can be prevented.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is an example of a perspective view of a mask 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a case where the mask 20 is attached to a head 91 of a user 90 in a state where a nose cover is not attached to a mask main body 21. FIG. 8 is an example of a perspective view of the mask 20 in a case where the mask 20 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where a nose cover 23 is attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by a seal 23 a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mask 20 includes a mask main body 21 for preventing exposure of the mouth of the user 90, a string 22 that is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 to hold the mask main body 21 at a specific position with respect to the head 91, and a nose cover 23 for preventing exposure of an external nostril 91 b (see FIG. 4) of a nose 91 a of the user 90.

The mask main body 21 can be formed of various materials such as a cloth other than a nonwoven fabric (such as a cotton woven fabric), a nonwoven fabric, and polyurethane.

The string 22 is connected to the mask main body 21. The string 22 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 by being hooked to an ear 91 c of the user 90.

The mask main body 21 and the string 22 may be integrally formed as one component. As a portion of the mask 20 excluding the nose cover 23, for example, a general disposable mask may be adopted.

The nose cover 23 can be attached to the mask main body 21 by, for example, the seal 23 a such that a part of the nose cover 23 protrudes above the upper end of the mask main body 21. The nose cover 23 can be formed of various materials such as a cloth other than a nonwoven fabric (such as a cotton woven fabric), a nonwoven fabric, and polyurethane.

As described above, the mask 20 includes the nose cover 23 attached to the mask main body 21 so as to protrude from the mask main body 21 in order to prevent the exposure of the external nostril 91 b of the user 90. Therefore, when the nose cover 23 is attached to the mask main body 21 in a case where the mask main body 21 slides down from a specific position of the head 91 of the user 90, the possibility that the external nostril 91 b of the user 90 is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover 23. Therefore, when there is a high possibility that the mask main body 21 slides down from a specific position of the head 91, for example, when the user 90 runs while the mask 20 is attached to the head 91, the mask 20 is attached to the head 91 in a state where the nose cover 23 is attached to the mask main body 21 as illustrated in FIG. 8, whereby the possibility that the external nostril 91 b is exposed can be reduced by the nose cover 23.

In the mask 20, in a case where there is a low possibility that the mask main body 21 slides down from the specific position of the head 91 of the user 90, the discomfort of the user 90 due to the wide range of a face being covered can be reduced by non-attaching the nose cover 23 to the mask main body 21 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

The nose cover 23 can be attached to the mask main body 21, but may be detachable from the mask main body 21. That is, the nose cover 23 may be detachably attached to the mask main body 21.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the nose cover 23 is attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by the seal 23 a disposed on the back side of the nose cover 23. However, the nose cover 23 may be attached to the mask main body 21 by means other than the seal. For example, the nose cover 23 may be attached to the mask main body 21 with an adhesive, may be attached to the mask main body 21 with a hook-and-loop fastener, or may be attached to the mask main body 21 with a clip.

FIG. 9A is a side view of a nose cover 23 in which a clip 23 b is attached to each of left and right positions on a back side. FIG. 9B is an example of a perspective view of the mask 20 in a case where the mask 20 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover 23 is attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by the clip 23 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the nose cover 23 may be attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by clipping the upper end of the mask main body 21 by the clip 23 b attached to each of the left and right positions on the back side of the nose cover 23.

FIG. 10A is a bottom view of the nose cover 23 in which a clip 23 c is attached to the center on the back side. FIG. 10B is an example of a perspective view of the mask 20 in a case where the mask 20 is attached to the head 91 of the user 90 in a state where the nose cover 23 is attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by the clip 23 c.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the nose cover 23 may be attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 by clipping a part of the surface of the mask main body 21 by the clip 23 c attached to the center on the back side of the nose cover 23.

In each example described above, the nose cover 23 is attached to the front side of the mask main body 21 such that a part thereof protrudes upward from the upper end of the mask main body 21. However, the nose cover 23 may be attached to the back side of the mask main body 21 such that a part thereof protrudes upward from the upper end of the mask main body 21. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mask comprising: a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user; and a nose cover portion protruding from the mask main body to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user, wherein the nose cover portion is foldable with respect to the mask main body at a boundary with the mask main body; and the mask has: a usage mode in which the mask is attached to a head of the user in a state where the nose cover portion is folded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary; and a usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is unfolded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary.
 2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the nose cover portion is connected to the mask main body only at a lower end of the nose cover portion in a state where the nose cover portion is unfolded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary.
 3. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the mask has a usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is folded to a front side of the mask main body at the boundary as the usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is folded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary.
 4. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the mask has a usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is folded to a back side of the mask main body at the boundary as the usage mode in which the mask is attached to the head in a state where the nose cover portion is folded with respect to the mask main body at the boundary.
 5. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising a mark indicating the boundary.
 6. The mask according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the boundary has different rigidity from that of at least one of a portion of the mask main body adjacent to the boundary and a portion of the nose cover portion adjacent to the boundary.
 7. A mask comprising: a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user; and a nose cover attached to a front side of the mask main body so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user, wherein the nose cover is detachably attached to the mask main body.
 8. A nose cover attached to a front side of a mask main body for preventing exposure of a mouth of a user so as to protrude from the mask main body in order to prevent exposure of an external nostril of the user. 